the companion robot that opens the door to code smart health innovation

Technological advances are more and more numerous and rapid. We must therefore think of future generations who will use today's innovative tools every day. With this in mind, the company BQ has developed Zowi, a robot supposed to awaken children to technology. We have tested it for you.

Learning to code and manipulate electronic materials is becoming increasingly important. With the emergence of new technologies every year, we can even talk about need in a few years. However, such learning is not always simple or very interesting for many children. BQ therefore offers Zowi, the robot that learn more about code and electronics, while having fun. A daring bet, but does it pay off? The answer in our Review.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFE-ItAmcQU (/ embed)

Mark : GQCategory: smart health connected robot / toyConnection: Bluetooth, micro-USBCompatibility: AndroidPrice: € 129.90Availability: AvailableTested with: Honor 8

Unboxing by Zowi

Zowi has a very simple box, going straight to the point. At first glance, you can see the robot through its almost entirely transparent case. There is a backside of it listing everything you can do with the machine. There are drawings showing both the possibilities of personalization and the coding or dancing of the toy.

The contents of the box are also very simple and well organized. Below the robot are stored the various instructions and warnings (quick start, message to parents, etc.), as well as the tools to dismantle Zowi and the charger. There is also a sticker sheet very nice to customize his robot. It should also be noted that it is already loaded the first time you use it, which is rarely the case with this kind of object.

Zowi design and ergonomics

BQ fully accepts the desire to present its product as both a robot and a toy. Zowi's look fits perfectly in a child's bedroom with its pretty blue color and big eyes. The stickers provided in the box reinforce this aspect of the machine, among which we find a clown nose, a mustache and wings. Once lit, Zowi looks even more childish. The little noises it makes when it is used and its mouth changing shape as desired makes it almost a pet.

If Zowi is visually pleasing, its construction leaves something to be desired in terms of its solidity. Whether on the application, the box or in the manuals, many warnings are given on its fragility. It is particularly recommended not to use it on a table, as a fall could greatly damage it. Information to take into account when you know that the robot is above all intended for children around 8 – 13 years old. At this age, you don't necessarily pay attention to your toys and Zowi is worth almost 130 euros. Suffice to say that we would have preferred to leave solid in their hands.

This apparent fragility aside, the joints and the internal construction work wonderfully. When the robot starts, it has no trouble moving around, lifting its legs or even sitting down. There are also three buttons on his back that allow you to directly use some of his abilities (react to sound, walk, and dance). If its design is a little "raw" (head and square feet / rectangular), we are still in front of a well constructed product.

Zowi application

Zowi has a dedicated application on smartphones and tablets. This is fully translated into French and very simple to handle. It’s through it that we take advantage of almost all that the toy has to offer. It is divided into two parts: “Play” and “discover”. The first allows you to control Zowi and access its functions, while the second teaches us more about the robot and its construction.

BQ has made its product interface as close as possible to that of a ehealth game. We can first direct the object with a controller and even change the shape of his mouth from the app. It is also here that we select the speed of our little companion, between three possible levels. There are also an equivalent of the game Simon (in which we must remember a series of colors), except that we must retain Zowi's movements and press the corresponding key.

Can also create your own choreographies that he will follow to the letter. Finally, a “success” system will allow unlock new moves as you go, which avoids getting tired of the craft quickly.

There is overall nothing wrong with this application. Its Bluetooth connection is very reactive and the instructions are all understood without problems. The design of the different functions and games is very nice and will appeal to young and old. Right out of the box, there is something to do with your smartphone, and even more afterwards with unlocking the content and learning the code.

Zowi features

As has been said many times, Zowi is as much a robot as a toy. Its functionalities therefore boil down above all to small animations. As discussed in the application part, it is capable of dance, walk and make sounds. BQ has communicated extensively on “innovative” ways to use its product, such as creating games with the robot as a support. The possibilities at this level, however, remain fairly basic, or require at least two to be purchased. We then reach a price far from most exchanges. Despite everything, the proposed games should satisfy the youngest wanting a little companion.

The main feature of Zowi is this promise “To awaken children to technology” according to the words of the letter to parents present in the box. Behind this sentence, there are two ideas: discovery of electronics on the one hand, that of coded the other. In the first case, we are just entitled to a somewhat indigestible scheme for young minds and an easy opening of the machine. This will delight the most curious who love to discover the functioning of everything around them.

The code of discord

It is above all the code that is highlighted, via the site BitBloq. The latter allows code with “blocks” simplifying creation. It is then possible to learn new movements Zowi or have him act on very specific events. For example, it can react to an obstacle at a selected distance or to certain sounds. If this part is very simplified, the same cannot be said of the rest of the site. It is sometimes badly translated or keeps altogether residues of Spanish sentences (the basic language). There are also in the “code blocks” words that few young people around 8-10 years old can know. "Booleans" and other "variables" are not necessarily part of the vocabulary of a child waking up to technology.

Much of the communication around Zowi assumes that a child can fend for himself, which is hard to believe here. Indeed, the proposed discovery seems more suitable for tweens, which may not be attracted to the childish design of the toy and its application. It could still be a good learning base, but only accompanied by an adult knowing what he's doing.

Zowi faces the competition

There are so few toys for learning code that Zowi actually only has a real direct competitor. Cozmo, Anki's companion robot, also allows you to learn the code and create the functionality you want. If it’s more expensive than BQ’s product, 179.99 euros, and has a less pleasant design, it does not lack assets. It has indeed a facial recognition software and can carry some small items. Its “face” being entirely digital, it also offers a wide range of expressions. Finally, you can play mini-games with him, and he will learn as the games go. As long as you can pay the price, this is a must when talking about little robot companions.

Conclusion

Zoxi is a very well-built robot companion. Her slight fragility other than that, its design is very effective and pleasing to the eye. The app to control it is very responsive and very much inspired by ehealth games. It avoids getting tired of the toy too quickly, while giving a sense of accomplishment via the proposed successes. In terms of functionality, there are several fun movements, such as dancing, traveling and small games.

The most awaited aspect, learning the code, is unfortunately unsuitable for young children. If "block" creation is done well, it is hard to imagine that a newcomer could do without the pervasive help of an adult. And this without counting the few translation problems on the site. Zowi remains however a good product worth looking into, whether it'syears of learning or play.

Good points

• Visually very nice design

• A simple and practical application

• Sufficiently varied functionality for children

• Easily accessible

Negative points

• A little fragile

• Less easy to learn than expected

Design and ergonomics – 8

Application – 9

Features – 7

Value for money – 6

7.5

Design and ergonomics : Zowi has a very nice and functional design. His joints work wonderfully and he reacts very well to sounds and obstacles. Too bad it is a little too fragile to be handled safely by children.

Application : If some problems with Bluetooth connections were felt at the beginning, there was no problem afterwards. Everything is good in the application, from its look to its simple and instinctive use.

Features : Zowi's performances are varied enough to entertain the youngest, between the walks, dances and games offered. We simply regret learning the code less simple than what was promised, when it is the heart of the machine proposal.

Value for money : If Zowi's performances can justify a little high price, the fact that it is made for children and a little too fragile makes the moment of payment a little painful. Without being abusive, it could still have been a little lower.

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